David Emery forwarded me the link to this creepy looking fish that washed up on the beach on Cayman Brac over the weekend. The local paper there is trying to figure out what in the heck it is:

It is roughly thirty inches long, more than half of which is a long, eel-like tail attached to a fish body. It has pale pink scales, pectoral fins, a dorsal fin and a small feathery fin on its belly. Local fishermen say they have not seen a creature quite like this before. It has boney bristles all along its spine, right down to the tip of its tail and small sharp teeth, which curve slightly inward.

If you have any idea, let them know. I assume it is a real fish. Kentaro Mori speculates that it's a deep-sea creature, like these. (Remember them? They're the fish that supposedly washed up on beaches after the Asian tsunami.)

Update: According to the Cayman Net News, in an article posted January 20, 2006, the mystery fish has been identified: "Croy McCoy, a research scientist at the Department of Environment, told Cayman Net News that, based on the description and photos provided, he believes the fish is a member of the Family Macrouridae (Coryphaenoididae), better known as grenadiers or rattails." (Thanks to Rswilson for posting this link in the comments. And let it be noted that Nemo was right.)

By the way, I'm pretty sure an eel IS a fish. Is it that unusual to see an "eel-like tail" on a "fish body"? I used to have an aquarium fish called a "dragon-fish".

The boney-bristles down its spine sound like the remains of a dorsal fin.

Posted by Joe on Thu Jan 19, 2006 at 05:23 PM

I'd bet money that it's a juvenile oarfish. Oarfish are very long and skinny, getting up to 8 meters long (the longest bony fish), have weird monkey-like faces, and have a row of spines along the back with a dorsal fin growing between them.

The mystery fish washed ashore is identified...
"Croy McCoy, a research scientist at the Department of Environment, told Cayman Net News that, based on the description and photos provided, he believes the fish is a member of the Family Macrouridae (Coryphaenoididae), better known as grenadiers or rattails. "